Pocket flashlight



Nov. 25, 1941.

POCKET FLASHLIGHT Filed Nov. 6, 1939 fizmrd/i 4 /7/76)" INVENTOR ATTORN EYS E. H. GRINER I 2,263,577

Patented Nov. 25, 1941 UNITED :s'mrss PAT sur ors ce will? 31 1 33311.. v

j p 7 4'Claims.

:My invention relates to new and useful timlproveme'nts in flashlight holders.

An important objectof my invention is to provide-a flashlight constructed in accordance with -my"invention' which may be used to great ad- *vantage 'by' mechanics and :repairmen; or by any "persons whoseroccupation *demands that they :iwo'rk in dark or'gloomy surroundings. I l

Another object of my invention is "to provide an attachment for a flashlight thatiwill permit thesameto be secured to the head of the user Sthus leaving his hands free to more efficiently perform the 'task before him. r

Still another object of myiinventi'on :is 'to'prowide a flashlight and attachment'thereforwhere- 'in the flashlight may be positioned to direct a "beam of light in'the direction of the :object on whichthe user is working; v; Yet another object of my inventionis the provision of a flashlight and attachment therefor that is readily portable, the same being unique H in their association with each=otherin that there are no projecting parts to'snag'or' tear theiclothn-ing thus permitting it 'to be easily carried in the pocketwhennot in ruse. A further object of :my invention is the provision of a flashlight and attachment therefor that is simple in constructionand inexpensive to manufacture. I

Other objects and advantages "of'my invention, will'be'apparentdu'ringthe course of the following description.

In the drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device,

1 Application November 6, 1933, Serial No. 303,142

and'showing the same applied to the head of the 7 user,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of my device, Figure 3 is'a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a holding ring embodying a part of my invention, and

Figure '7 is a top plan view of another holdin ring embodying a part of my invention.

The numeral I0 designates a flashlight of essentially conventional construction including a tubular casing H the opposite ends l2 and I3 of which are screw-threaded to receive the cap l4 and the lens retaining ring [5, respectively. The

cap M is provided with a flat end wall t6 :andaan :annular'skirtil't which screw-threadedly receives the end l2 of the casing. The end wali'rlt is formed with a diametrically exteniiirigdhannl "f1 thes'op'p'osite ends of which open 'throughithe skirt it at diametrically opposed sides thereof and curve inwardly :as at 1'9 and 19 to define "substantially large recesses at its juncture with the skirt.

The casing is formed adjacent the end "[3 with a peripheral groove.Mwhichreceives the resilient band 2 I, the same 'being preferably split, as at 122, to fpermitit to be easily snapped iniplace. "The resilient action of the band should, "however, be sufficiently great ito hold the same normallyfseated within the groove -20. The bandis "of substantially circular formation in "plan and is provided at diametrically opposed sides thereof with outwardly extending portions -23 and 24 which are adaptedtobe spaced from the casing and normally disposed in vertical alignment with the ends 19 and it of the channel.

The cap 14 is formed adjacent the wall H5 with a peripheral groove 25 in which'the circular band this disposed; the said band being similarly split, as at 21, to permit the same to be easily snapped in place within the groove.

The elastic strap 28 has the end 29 thereof looped through the extended portion "23 of the band 21 and fixedly secured by the holding clip '39. Thegstrap extends from the band 21 in the direction of the cap l4 and slightly spaced from the casing ll, through the channel H in the end wall of the cap and under the portions of the bands 26 which bridge the open ends of the channel. From the channel the strap extends upwardly in slightly spaced relation with the cylinder and is provided with a hook 3| which is normally detachably connected with the extended portion 24 of the band 2|.

It may be seen that when the strap 28 is ar- 7 ranged in this manner, there will be no projections extending beyond the normal periphery of the flashlight, and that the end I6 thereof may be easily and expeditiously inserted in or removed from the pocket. Many occupations or professions demand that the Workers perform a considerable number of their duties in the dark or in gloomy surroundings and during the performance of these duties it is frequently necessary that both hands be free. Ordinarily it is necessary that the flashlight be heldin one hand or rested on a nearby supporting object, from which the beam of light may be directed on the object being examined or worked upon. Either of the above arrangements are usually unsatisfactory and quite often it is impossible to employ either of them.

By disengaging the hook 3| from the extended portion 24 of the ring 2!, and sliding the same under the bridging portion of the band 26 and through the open end IQ of the channel, the hook may be attached to the portion of the band bridging the opposite end I9 of the channel, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 2. When arranged in this manner the strap will be loosely looped at one side of the flashlight and with its extremities attached to opposite ends thereof to permit the strap to be looped around the head of the user and with the flashlight disposed at the side of the head and above the ear, as illustrated in Figure 1. When disposed in this manner the resiliency of the strap will hold the flashlight against displacement and in fixed association with the head of the user. The flashlight may then be adjustably positioned to direct the beam of light. inithe desired manner and the hands of the workman will be free to more efficiently perform the task.

It may also be seen that when the flashlight is disposed in' this manner the beam of light will always be'directed forwardly of the user regardless of his movements, thus permitting him to move around in a darkened room, or to easily find his tools or working implements if the same become scattered or misplaced.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and

that various changes in the size, shape and ar- 1 rangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a flashlight construction, a casing having a diametrically channeled end; rings encompassing the casing adjacent its opposite ends, the ring adjacent the channeled end of the casing bridging the ends of the said channel; an elastic strap fastened to the ring remote from the channeled end of the casing, said strap extending through the channel under the bridging portions of the ring; and a hook carried by the free end of the strap and normally detachably connected to the first-mentioned ring, said hook being adapted to be disengaged from the first-mentioned ring and to be connected with either of the bridging portions of the second-mentioned ring.

2. In a flashlight construction, a casing having one end formed with a bisecting groove, a band encompassing the casing at the channeled end thereof and with portions bridging the open ends of the channel, a band encompassing the casing at the end opposite the channeled end thereof and having outwardly extended portions in vertical alignment with the open ends of the channel, and an elastic strap having one end fixedly secured to one of the extended portions of the second band, said strap extending through the channel under the bridging portions of the first band and with its free end detachably secured to the other extended portion of the second band.

3. In a flashlight construction, a casing having one end formed with a bisecting groove; a band encompassing the casing at the channeled end thereof and with portions bridging the open ends of the channel; a ban-d encompassing the casing at the end opposite the channeled end thereof and having outwardly extended portions in vertical alignment with the open ends of the channel; an elastic strap having one end fixedly secured to one of the extended portions of the second band, said strap extending through the channel under the bridging portions of the first band; and hook means carried by the free end of the strap, said hook means being adapted to normally engage the other extended portion of the second band but, upon occasions, to be disengaged therefrom and to engage either of the bridging portions of the firstband.

4. In a flashlight construction, a casing having circumferentially spaced depressions at one end thereof, a split ring encompassing the mentioned end of the casing and bridging the said depressions, an elastic strap having one end fixedly secured to the casing at the end thereof remote from the said depressions, the said strap extending through the depressions and under the bridging portions of the split ring, a hook carried by the free end of'the strap, and a keeper carried by the casing in circumferentially spaced relation with the first-mentioned end of the strap for detachably receiving the said hook, said hook being adapted to be disengaged from the keeper and to be connected with either of the bridging portions of the said split ring. A EDWARD H. GRINER. 

